Frequently Asked Questions

Where do they work best?

Any sun affected window or any cold affected area, but they are a blind you have when you would really prefer not to have a blind at all, so they work best in a window with a view.

For a Krumpers Solar Blinds™ to reach its full potential it must be placed where it can take, and reflect the full force of the sun. Therefore Reflective Blinds are always installed in front of all other blinds and curtains. It is always the closest window furnishing to the glass.

Are your blinds suitable (or even needed) for a south facing application where I already have double pane, low-E, argon-filled windows?

Yes. Low-E argon gas filled windows are a very good product within the window category, however even low-E allow for around 60%* heat transfer rate through the glass both summer and winter, Krumpers Solar Blinds™ reduces this transfer to less than 20%.

Will they do any better for winter thermal insulation on a north facing window compared to regular blinds?

Yes. Low-E argon gas filled windows are a very good product within the window category, however even low-E allow for around 60%* heat transfer rate through the glass both summer and winter, Krumpers Solar Blinds™ reduces this transfer to less than 20%*.

Yes. Regular blinds absorb the heat to some degree for both winter and summer application and the insulating factor is around an R2* unless you have the very heavy insulating curtains (velvet / wool) then the R factor goes up to around 8-9*. Krumpers Solar Blinds™ allow for an unobstructed view with an R factor of around 10 (windows are measured in U values, however people are not familiar with the system and we have recalculated the values into an R measurement).

Is there any application where they aren’t suitable?

Krumpers Solar Blinds™ give no night time privacy, so they are not a substitute for conventional blinds or curtains in the evening. They are not a decorator product in the normal sense of the word, because they do not add colour and texture to your room.

Where do you get your figures from?

The performance claims made for Krumpers Solar Blinds™ has been done under the the same computer modelling software as used by the US National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). This software has been thoroughly validated against laboratory tests in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom — in all climates, hot and cold.

The market profile and returns from high-performance windows are increasing rapidly. Gone are the days when windows were just a commodity to be sold on price alone.

What is solar heat gain any way?

Reduction in Solar Heat Gain is another way of saying Solar Energy Rejected. Solar Energy Rejected is the ratio of the amount of total solar energy in the full solar wave length range (300-2100 nanometers)* that passes directly through a glazing system, to the amount of solar energy falling on that glazing system.

What this means is that on a normal summer’s day, about 600 watts of solar heat energy will fall on every square metre of our eastern and western windows for about four hours every day: the eastern windows in the morning and the western windows in the afternoon.

Solar energy does three things when it strikes a surface:

Some is reflected: some of this reflected energy is what enables us to see the object.

Some may be transmitted: this only occurs if the object is transparent or translucent.

The balance is absorbed by the body as heat energy which raises the temperature of the body. Solar energy is not in itself hot, but it is called heat energy because of this phenomena.

Are there any disadvantages?

You can crease them

You can crush them

You can scratch them

All of which you can do to most other blinds, but you can’t tear them

While they are protecting you and your furniture, they are sacrificing themselves to the ravages of the sun

These blinds are not designed to provide privacy at night when your lights are on

They are not awnings, and cannot be installed successfully in outside applications

In combination with screens they can produce a moray visual effect

Is window film a good choice for climate control in my home or office?

The sun is still striking the glass causing heat gain in the living space. It cannot be temporarily removed, it is like having permanent sunglasses on your windows.

Voids the warranty on the majority of manufacturer’s window warranties.

If not installed correctly the customer can see visible lines and bubbles. Even if tint or film is installed correctly – tends to bubble, peel, and crack after a few years of exposure.

Window Film can cause thermal shock fracture when installed on insulated glass windows caused by an increase of heat and pressure between the panes of glass. Think of a really sunny day in winter. This is why window manufacturers void all warranties!

How Are They Installed?

This depends upon the model and the specifics of the site.

How long does it take to have them made up?

Just like the rest of the blind industry it depends on the time of the year. Delivery lead time is approximately 2 – 4 weeks.

How long do they last?

Users are reporting that they are still happy with Krumpers Solar Blinds™ under a glass roof after twenty years and behind vertical glass after thirty years. Our only concern with making such extended claims is that although the blind may look fine after that amount of time, it may not be working as well as it was in the first half of its life.

How do I remember when it's time to reverse my blinds?

We send out an email twice a year, reminding our customers that it is time to reverse their solar blinds.

How Are They Installed?

This depends upon the model and the specifics of the site.

How do I buy Solar Blinds?

Contact Diana today at (613) 864-4921 or dlivshits@krumpers.ca to help you get your office or home fitted with Krumpers Solar Blinds. View our project gallery to see the diversity of window shapes and sizes Krumpers can cover.